Thyroid cancer is a type of cancer that does not occur often, although an increase in its incidence rate has been recorded in recent years. It occurs more often in women than in men (in a ratio of 3:1), but it can occur in all age groups, from children to the elderly. In its early stages, thyroid cancer does not show any particular symptoms, but as it develops and spreads, warning signs begin to appear, including:
1. Lumps on the neck – they can be visible to the naked eye or only felt to the touch, while some people can notice them when swallowing when they will cause discomfort (usually on the front of the neck),
2. enlarged lymph nodes on the neck – usually in the area under the jaw,
3. pain in the neck that sometimes extends to the ears – if it lasts longer than a few weeks, especially in combination with some of the other symptoms,
4. hoarseness or other voice changes – a less common symptom caused by a thyroid nodule,
5. difficulty in breathing and/or swallowing – one of the less common signs of detecting thyroid cancer caused by the enlargement of the thyroid gland,
6. persistent cough – one that is not caused by a cold or other illness.
